Race Information

• Name: ING Night Marathon Luxembourg
• Date: May 11, 2024
• Distance: 26.2 miles
• Location: Luxembourg
• Website: https://www.ing-night-marathon.lu/en.html
• Strava: N/A
• Time: 4:00:48

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	PB	No
B	3:45	No
C	Don't hit the wall	No
D	Nail fueling	No

Splits

Mile	Time
1	8:32
2	8:33
3	8:37
4	8:42
5	8:37
6	8:29
7	8:27
8	8:22
9	8:22
10	8:26
11	8:04
12	8:19
13	8:21
14	8:22
15	8:15
16	8:47
17	9:25
18	9:22
19	9:38
20	11:08
21	9:33
22	9:38
23	9:12
24	10:17
25	10:49
26	10:08
26.68	6:14

My first post after following this sub for awhile and getting some great information. I'm a 34F who has been a lifelong runner, but not that serious until I decided I wanted to reach some half marathon goals in 2023. I read 80/20 Running and adopted the method with great success, meeting my goal of sub 1:45 in the half and then another PB of 1:43 during the training cycle for this marathon. I have run 2 marathons previously, both virtual due to the pandemic, and followed generic online plans based on distance and pace but not heart rate.

Training

I really have enjoyed the 80/20 method so I used the Marathon Level 2 18 Week training plan from Matt Fitzgerald's book. Stepping up to running 6-7 days a week consistently was daunting, but I found myself getting into a really good routine with it. I'm not really an early morning person, so most of my workouts were in the late mornings/afternoons. I generally feel the best when I workout in the afternoons, so I figured that the marathon being in the evening would actually work well for me. I only missed 7 workouts over the whole training cycle (mostly recovery runs and a few speed runs), and modified another 7 of them due to tune-up races or travel. I did a bit of strength training in the beginning of my training plan, usually 20 minute full body dumbbell sessions, but stopped those I would say around 1/3 - 1/2 of the way through the plan as the runs got longer and I had less time to add strength training on top. I had a 16 mile marathon simulator run at week 15 that went great -- my target MP was 8:32, and I averaged 8:05 during the simulator. Weather was 40s and rainy, and there were hills on this route. Overall I felt my training was leading me towards meeting my B goal, and at least beating my old marathon PB of 3:59 that I ran with less focused training.

Pre-Race

I focused on carb-loading the few days before the race, and headed to Luxembourg on Friday to settle in the day before. Since this is a night race that starts at 7pm, I decided to do my shakeout run that morning, and in the afternoon I had a nap to really relax and be prepped for the night race.

Race

I got to the venue 2+ hours before the start as recommended, and stayed out of the sun while waiting for the start. The sun didn't go down until about 9pm, so for the first half of the race conditions were sunny and temps in the 70s. Unfortunately they start the half marathon and marathon all together so the race was quite crowded, and I did spend a good amount of time weaving to make sure I could still keep my pace plan. The course is quite fun, running through lots of Luxembourg downtown, parks, and residential areas with people all over the course cheering you on. There are a lot of DJs with music set up and flashing lights, so it's a party atmosphere. I stuck to my fuel plan for about the first half of the race, having a gel every 25 minutes. As you can see from my splits, I felt pretty great until about mile 17. Cardiovascularly I felt fine, and looking at my heart rate zones I stayed in Zone 2 and 3 most of the time. What really hurt were my quads. It was a soreness I really had to push to overcome, and ultimately couldn't keep up with my goal mile paces. I couldn't believe it, but I drank my whole 1.5L hydration vest about 3 hours in! I stopped taking my gels because the thought of putting more flavored sugar in my mouth was very unappealing. My stomach wasn't upset at all, but I really craved cool water to rinse my mouth out. I have never had that feeling in my mouth during training, but I usually don't have that many gels during my long runs. During long runs I had a gel about every 45 minutes. I was really trying to push the last few miles to make sure I left it all on the course, and my official time is 4:00:48. I know virtual races are no comparison, but one positive is you get to stop running right at 26.2! I already knew this course was a bit longer, with the planned route on my Garmin at 26.38, but I ended up running 26.68.

Post-Race

Of course I was disappointed post-race. I really thought my training supported a better time. I was wondering if I really gave it my all, but on the tram ride back to my Air BnB I felt lightheaded and my quads were just killing me so I'm pretty sure the answer is yes. It was sometime past midnight when I got back to my AirBnB, and with my appetite kicking in I got some dumplings from an Asian spot and crashed!
I thought of a few reasons why I didn't hit my goal: the warm beginning to the race when most of my training has been in cooler temps; the hills on the course, especially since the last few miles are uphill; and lack of strengh training throughout the full training cycle to build stronger quads. Reading through my race report I'm wondering if the hot start to the race was really the prime factor, or if that's more of an easy excuse.
Anyway I'm wondering if I should repeat this plan for a fall marathon or if maybe cutting back the running days and adding a dedicated strength day would be better?
Thanks for all the great advice on this sub! Did anyone else run this one?
Made with a new race report generator created by herumph.

Round 1, Pick 23 - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU:
NFL: After the departure of Calvin Ridley in free agency, the Jaguars were determined to find a physical, fast receiver who could give them a vertical element in the pass game. They found it in Thomas, a stud who found the end zone 17 times last season for LSU. This is a big addition for Trevor Lawrence and Co.
CBS Sports: B+. This is a heck of a move for a team that needs another young weapon. He can fly and his best football is in front of him. Watch out for their offense in 2024.
ESPN: Thomas is one of the biggest (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) and fastest receivers in the draft (4.33 40-yard dash at the combine). His production in the SEC was elite in 2023: 17.3 yards per catch, 17 TD catches. He gives the Jaguars something they haven't had since Allen Robinson II (2014-17): Someone who can go up and get 50-50 balls and provide a big red-zone target. The Jaguars threw few end-zone fade routes the past several seasons, but that should change with Thomas, who had 10 TD catches on go or fade routes last season, the second-most in FBS to Rome Odunze.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Enjoys the Browns, Texans, and Vikings and this pick had it all.
Round 2, Pick 48 - Maason Smith, DT, LSU:
NFL: When I spoke to Smith last week, he made sure to highlight his workout with the Jaguars -- his final team visit -- as clearly his best. The Jags agreed. Smith has first-round tools but has been beset by injuries and a rotating cast of defensive coaches at LSU. His production is lacking, but his potential is downright exciting. If they're patient, the Jaguars might have something here.
CBS Sports: B-. Highly touted recruit who dealt with injuries and never quite met hype in college. Tall, sleek interior player who flashes that big-recruit talent at times just not ultra consistent. Won’t be limited athletically in the NFL. Rushes get far too high, which saps his power. Nice arm over but really his only move. Fills a need.
ESPN: The Jaguars needed to bolster their run defense, which faded down the stretch in 2023, and get younger on the defensive line. The 6-foot-5, 306-pounder can play inside as well as at defensive end, which gives the Jaguars some versatility along the front with Roy Robertson-Harris and DaVon Hamilton. Hamilton had a disappointing season in 2023 because of a back infection and he never reached the level he did in 2022, which earned him a contract extension. The Jaguars also released NT Folorunso Fatukasi this spring after two disappointing seasons, so adding depth along the defensive front was a priority.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: His record in the fuzzy bunny challenge is 19.
Round 3, Pick 96 - Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State:
NFL: Measuring nearly 6-feet and running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash helped Jones' cause quite a bit. He has inside and outside experience but likely will be a nickel corner in the NFL. I thought he was a Day 3 prospect because of his short arms and long injury history, but Jones has gone up against talented receivers and won some battles.
CBS Sports: B. Taller than most nickel CBs but has requisite twitch and possesses the vertical juice to carry deep routes. Change of direction is very good but just not consistent. Tends to get his pads high when trying to ID the play, which saps his quickness. Unreliable tackler. Good ball skills and destroys screens on regular basis.
ESPN: The 6-foot, 190-pound Jones lined up primarily in the slot in 2023, so that's where he'll start with the Jaguars. The Jaguars signed CB Ronald Darby in free agency to play on the outside opposite Tyson Campbell. Head coach Doug Pederson said at the owners meetings that Darnell Savage Jr., whom they also signed in March, would be playing nickel, so Jones joins the rotation there along with Antonio Johnson. Jones has good speed (he ran 4.38 in the 40 at the combine) and has played outside at FSU at times as well, but the team has confidence that Darby can be the starter.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Rolex? Bulova? Omega? Patek Philippe? This man is CASIO all the way.
Round 4, Pick 114 - Javon Foster, OT, Missouri:
NFL: Foster has excellent experience at left tackle, and he looked facile at right tackle at the Senior Bowl. He's not an exceptional athlete but has good length, is patient in pass protection and can quietly get the job done. He's likely a swing tackle to start out.
CBS Sports: B+. College OT who has the frame to stay there but maybe not the overall athletic profile. Power and quick-setting skills shine. Can win ugly and importantly shows recovery skill. This is a smart investment. Just gets the job done on a routine basis.
ESPN: The Jaguars have only one offensive tackle under contract beyond this season (right Anton Harrison) so this was a position the Jaguars needed to address. Foster started 39 games at left tackle and two at right tackle at Missouri but he won't be asked to play in 2024 unless there are injuries to left tackle Cam Robinson and swing tackle Walker Little -- or the Jaguars decide to trade Robinson, in which case the 24-year-old Foster could become the swing tackle as a rookie.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Spends all day writing letters to bring back Club Penguin.
Round 4, Pick 116 - Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU:
NFL: That's the third LSU player the Jags have selected, and the fourth SEC player. Jefferson is one of three Tigers DTs in this draft class, and he is a bull-strong battler inside. However, he might have to make it as an early-down run-stopper because of his lack of pass-rush juice.
CBS Sports: D+. Classic wide-bodied DT who thrives against the run. Thick frame. Block-shedding skills are well-developed but has no pass-rush plans. Active on passing downs just rarely gets home. Length is a plus and he’s an above-average athlete for a future NT. Not a bad player just limited and this feels early.
ESPN: Jefferson is the third LSU player -- and second on defense -- the Jaguars have drafted so far. It's clear the Jaguars are mining inside linebackers coach Matt House, who spent the past two seasons as LSU's defensive coordinator. The 6-foot-4, 317-pound Jefferson -- who played three seasons at West Virginia before transferring to LSU -- showed off his upper body strength at the combine by benching 225 pounds 34 times. The Jaguars' run defense faded in the second half of the season and played a major role in a season-ending loss to Tennessee -- Derrick Henry ran for a season-high 153 yards -- and the team cut nose tackle Folorunso Fatukasi in March so an upgrade along the interior of the defensive line was a priority in the draft.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: He has suffered from Ailurophobia for as long as he can remember.
Round 5, Pick 153 - Deantre Prince, CB, Mississippi:
NFL: Prince's speed gives him a chance, either as a corner or on special teams, but his lean, shorter frame could be problematic. He was a reliable contributor for the Rebels over the past several seasons.
CBS Sports: B. Outside CB with rockets attached his cleats. Can really run. Route-recognition skills must improve. High-effort type vs. the run but blockers devour him too often. Instinctive in coverage when everything is in front of him. Plays more athletically than his workout. With coaching can be solid pro.
ESPN: The Jaguars continue to add to the secondary with Prince, who lined up almost exclusively outside in college. He had six interceptions and 21 pass breakups in four seasons for the Rebels and one interception in one season at Northeast Mississippi Community College. He worked as a gunner on punt coverage as well, and his best chance to make an impact as a rookie will likely be on special teams.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Won’t eat bugles until after he’s had them on his fingers like claws.
Round 5, Pick 167 - Keilan Robinson, RB, Texas:
NFL: Three straight backs off the board. The Jaguars probably needed more RB depth, and Robinson brings top-shelf speed to Jacksonville. In a crowded Texas backfield, Robinson had to scrap for every offensive touch (156 total in 45 career games) he received. His meal ticket likely will be as a gadget-play specialist or gunner or jammer on special teams.
CBS Sports: C-. Played behind two studs at Texas but made the most of his minimal attempts. Has breakaway speed in a smaller frame. Not a very decisive runner who can win with his vision alone. Not ultra twitchy and elusive. Has some return ability. But this is too early for a developmental type.
ESPN: Robinson started his college career at Alabama and finished at Texans. He ran for 796 yards and eight touchdowns, but he has more value as a kick returner. He averaged 23.6 yards per kickoff return on 39 returns in his career. The Jaguars signed receivereturner Devin Duvernay to replace Jamal Agnew, but the new kickoff rule makes returners more valuable and teams may opt to put two returners on the field at the same time. He also covered kicks at Texas so this is a special teams pick for the Jaguars.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: The only thing worse than being drafted here is having to know TheFencingCoach.
Round 6, Pick 212 - Cam Little, K, Arkansas:
NFL: Our third kicker in a short span here. Little arguably has the best leg talent of the three and can hit all the way out to the 60-plus-yard range. But his inconsistencies (including at the combine) could make him a bit untrustworthy if he struggles in late-game situations.
CBS Sports: B-. Three years of 80-plus percent make rate on field goals in the SEC.
ESPN: Little is the most accurate kicker in Arkansas history, making 82.8% of his attempts (53 of 64) in his three-year career. He also never missed a PAT (129 for 129). He'll be the third kicker on the roster, joining Joey Slye and Riley Patterson, who kicked the game-winning field goal in the Jaguars' 31-30 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild card playoff game following the 2022 regular season. The Jaguars had agreed to terms with Denver kicker Wil Lutz in free agency but Lutz decided to return to the Broncos, so Little would likely be the favorite to win the competition with Slye and Patterson.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: He is excited to find out where the 36th NFL team is located.
Round 7, Pick 236 - Myles Cole, DE, Texas Tech:
NFL: Finding the right technique for Cole will be key, as he lacks the bulk to handle full-time interior duty, but his unusual traits (especially his length) make him a fun Round 7 dice roll.
CBS Sports: B. Absolutely enormous, freaky long EDGE. Moves well for his size but wasn’t overly productive in college. Has hand work but too often blocks stick to him. Does not deploy his length as an advantage. Has to add that to his arsenal.
ESPN: Cole's measurables at the combine were impressive: 36 7/8-inch arms (longest of any player) and a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He also ran a 4.67-second 40-yard dash, which is impressive for a 6-foot-6, 278-pounder. But his college production wasn't as impressive, with five sacks in six seasons (four years at Louisiana-Monroe and two at Texas Tech). He's a developmental project.
NFL Absolutely Not Fake News: Thinks Sisko was, no IS, the best Trek captain.

I've been incorporating progressive overload into my lifting routine and have progressively increased the weights for several months. However, I've noticed that as the weights get heavier (especially for squats, deadlifts, and bench press), my rest times between reps and sets are also increasing. This has slowly extended my full-body workouts (done 3x per week) from 1 hour to 2.5 hours. And it's steadily increasing.
For instance, when doing 3x10 squats, I need a full 5-7 minutes of rest between sets. And I even find myself resting for 4-5 seconds between reps. I do squeeze in supersets where I can, but for the larger compound lifts, I'm absolutely exhausted and have to sit and catch my breath.
I'm looking for advice on whether this is normal or if there are more efficient ways to handle these longer sessions. Am I "cheating" at progressive overload by compensating with tons of rest time? Should I lower the weights? Any tips or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

🎉🏋️‍♂️ Welcome to FindYourFit! 🏋️‍♀️🎉
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Ready to take the plunge and embark on an exciting adventure towards discovering your ideal fitness routine or community sport? Join the FindYourFit community today and unlock a world of possibilities! Share your goals, seek advice, connect with like-minded individuals, and together, let's make fitness fun, inclusive, and empowering for everyone!
Remember, your journey towards finding your fit starts here. Let's sweat, smile, and support each other every step of the way! 💪🌟

FindYourFit #FitnessCommunity #Empowerment #SupportiveEnvironment #FitnessJourney #CommunityConnection

I’ve plateaued between 184 and 190 pounds. At this point, I am trying to acquire a more hourglass looking figure. Naturally speaking, I have more of a triangular shape whereas my shoulders are wider than my hips. I’ve been trying to obtain a routine that is light weight on the upper body workout and heavier on lower body. I can’t seem to quite figure out what to do. If anyone could give me some advice on what lower body workouts that I could put into my workout, that would be very helpful. :)

Hey everyone, maybe Im in the wrong part of reddit please point me in the right direction .
I've been on a weight loss journey and have lost 35lbs, with a goal of shedding over 100 pounds. I'm looking for guidance on how to build a community and following around my journey. I'm also curious about content structuring and whether I should focus on one app or use multiple platforms.
How would you suggest I go about building a strong and engaged community? Should I focus on specific platforms or use a multi-platform approach?like on one app, such as Instagram or TikTok, and build a strong presence there? Or should I diversify and use multiple platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and X to reach a wider audience? What has worked best for others in the health and fitness niche?
How should I structure my content to keep my audience engaged? Any tips for balancing progress updates, workout routines, nutrition advice, and motivation in my content?
I plan on filming my content using my iPhone 14. Do you think this will be sufficient in terms of video quality, or should I invest in additional equipment?
Thanks for the help!

As the title says it, I loved the idea of becoming a sahd. Agreed with my wife that we will each stay 1 year at home after the kid gets born, so each of us will see how it is, to fully immerse into parenting, for bonding purposes, etc. As my sahd year started 6 months ago, I totally loved it: I am passionate about doing groceries, totally into cooking, love doing house chores and best of all, the time with the little angel (which is now 17 months old). Started to hate my 10yo office job and became a more of an active person, so the 1-year parenting pass came as a blessing. So to begin with: I absolutely rocked as a father staying at home: found tons of activities to do with the small one, cooked every day, started to get up earlier and be more active and energized, found new routines.\ The trouble came now, 6 months later - but it definitely built from the first day at home-: nobody tells you what the hard time comes from! It's not about Sisif's task of always puting everybody's things at their place, cooking, cleaning, washing, laundry, having patience with the little angel who likes to throw food into the walls... becoming sleep deprived, not having time to properly shower or workout! No! It's the ISOLATION.\ As a man you completely shut down your connections and isolate yourself. Nobody from your workplace will ask you how's it going. Your friends will not understand why you don't have time to go to beer on Friday night (although you so sooo much need a cold pint). The most understanding friends are the ones that say "I know how hard is to be a parent, I also have a dog, you know ..." Everybody thinks you, as a man, are on a perpeutual holiday! And this is also fine... Until you also start to be neglected by your wife, who no longer "connects" with you!\ Fathers of StayAtHomeDaddit, how do you cope with a dead bedroom? How do you cope with an installing depression? Always trying to do what needs be done and always failing? \ Day by day I seem to be more and more distant from my wife (who started to always have other priorities), and nobody asks you if you need any help, or simply give you some kind words of encouragement. Somehow the little one is more and more dependent of her mother. Is this a phase? Is it because of breastfeeding and reluctance to weaning?\ How do you, dads around here managed to survive and keep your family united rather than divorce and "screw this, I am out" ? Any other tricks or coping mechanisms that I am missing? \ Sorry if my post was long, but yes, it's a cry for help not a rant.

Looking for some good workout (and maybe diet) recommendations! I have such a hard time sticking to workouts because I just don’t see results and I get easily discouraged. What are some workout routines yall enjoy? I can’t really do any knee bending workouts b/c I have early onset arthritis in my knees and it’s painful!
I would also love to hear about diets too! How many calories do you eat, etc? I’ve tried gluten free before since I read it helps with hypo but it wasn’t for me
Thanks!!

Long story short, I turn 30 this year and am looking to get back into shape as I’ve had almost no regular activity since playing rugby in college. Have wanted to try capoeira since high school and plan to start classes at a local dojo(?) in September, but am gong to spend the months leading up working on my fitness. Curious what kind of exercises would be best suited to help me prepare for classes. Thanks for any and all advice :)

Race information

• What? Dead Carp 20K
• When? May 11, 2024
• How far? 20 Kilometers
• Where? Marquette, MI
• Website: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Marquette/DeadCarp20Kand5k
• Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/11385613953/overview
• Finish time: 1:20:34

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	Don't need to take bathroom break	Yes
B	< 1:22	Yes
C	Top 5	Yes
D	Top in age group	No

Splits

Mile	Time
1	6:26
2	6:34
3	6:32
4	6:31
5	6:33
6	6:33
7	6:34
8	6:36
9	6:33
10	6:26
11	6:29
12	6:13
.43	5:51

Training

I am currently training for Grandma's Marathon in Duluth using Pftzinger's 18/55 plan, where I will be attempting to go under 3 hours. I haven't run a full marathon in 2 years, at which time I ran a 3:46, but then I ran a 1:29 half marathon last year and figured if I trained hard enough I could get my half marathon below 1:25 and full under 3 hours.
This was my tune up race, and going into it I was a little nervous as not all of my uptempo runs have been going to plan, and in the last couple weeks I have had the additional issues of needing to poop any time I'm trying to get down nutrition, which I use Gus and liquid IV for. I have used these for years so for them to be causing issues now is odd. I have also run this race the last two years, in which I got a 1:48 (bonked), then a 1:27, so today's goal of 1:22 was a big step in the right direction if I could manage it.
Still, I knew I could beat my old record by a lot, and I did some research on the entrants to see where I stand. My goal was 6:37 pace, or 1:22, and I knew there was a pack of 2-3 people who all run similar paces but a little faster, so I decided if they kept the pace over 6:30/mile I would hang on.

Pre-race

Got up early, ate my oatmeal, drank my coffee, did a bunch of stretching and a moblility routine, then headed over to the race to talk with others and get hyped up. The weather was in the 40s with overcast and barely any wind. My race kit consisted of:
Shoes: Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris Shorts: Janji AFO 5" with additional Path Projects liner to help with any possible thigh chafing. Shirt: Asics Actibreeze Singlet Hat: Janji Ultralight

Race

1st 5K - 20:15
The race started out hot, but our pack of 4 cooled it down in the first quarter mile, still starting out a little hot in the first mile but then we chilled out and the rest of the first 5K felt good. It's crazy to me that this pace honestly felt easy, when going under 6:40 during my workouts always was a struggle. The adrenaline and running with a pack really does something.
2nd 5K - 20:18; 1st 10K - 40:33
Mostly boring, ran it very even, got my first aid from my wife at my 4 and then hit the first aid station at 5.5, both of which caused a tiny bit of upset in my stomach, but not like normal.
3rd 5K - 20:26
We dropped one of the 4 of our pack at this point, so now it's down to 3 of us, but I was sitting behind the two of them for the most part. We hit the final turn around shortly after mile 8, and I told myself once we get to mile 9 I would try to bump up the pace. So I moved past them to 6:25 pace shortly after hitting that but then the other 2 came back even stronger at 6:20 pace and left me in the dust. I could always see them but they were fading away as the time ticked on, even though I was still going under 6:30.
4th 5K - 19:35; 2nd 10K - 40:01
This is where the real race began. At this point I usually couldn't see them, but there was a huge section of downhill around mile 11 that I decided to take advantage. I could finally see them and saw that I was covering the gap and by the time I got to the bottom of the hill I had caught up and they seemed very surprised. This course is incredibly flat, but the last mile has 3 small up and down hills that test the grit in each runner. I pushed up each of those hills harder than the previous. I figured I had dropped one of the guys, but the other was hot at my heels. I could hear him behind me, but then we made the final turn to the home stretch which is about a quarter mile and I just booked it, finally unable to hear him as I ended up winning by about 5 seconds. I wasn't looking at my watch the final 2 miles, so I was surprised to see that I hit my 12th mile in 6:13 and final .43 miles at 5:50 pace (with the final stretch getting into 5:20 territory).

Post-race

I felt elated! I beat my goal by a lot, I got to have a proper fun race with some challenging competitors who also gave it their all, and while I was tired my body was fairly ready to go not long after and I was able to enjoy the post race fun with friends back at home sitting out in the sun in our backyard. I came into this not knowing whether I was ready for this race or Grandma's marathon in June, but I feel much more confident that if 6:30 pace felt easy for 12 miles, 6:52 will hopefully feel alright for over double that. The work has just started, now to stick with the plan for the remaining 6 weeks.

Long time runner making the transition to rowing in 2024, but struggling at building stamina for longer rows. Had 5-10 minute rows in my routine for years, but after pushing past the 20 minute barrier I have struggled to keep adding time, at least while maintaining decent pace & workouts/wk. And I know comparison is the theft of joy, but I see posts on here with people rowing for hours and I don't know how I'll ever get there. Hoping to get some perspective here, and maybe the rowing community is more niche than running.
Just to add my main workout has been 2:1 ratio HIIT at 22-24 & 26+ SPM. Have a dumber water rower so don't have too many advanced stats.
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I've been having a weird relationship with alcohol these past few years. While I'm not a debilitating alcoholic, I recognize I have an unhealthy habit of drinking. More than half a decade ago I was a functioning alcoholic. Nowadays I've just continually tapered off. If I wanted to stop drinking for a few days, I did so without any issues. So no shaking or tremors, etc.
A couple months ago I got back to being physically active. I weighed in for the first time in a long time and found out I had lost 10 lbs while gaining muscle. Natually this was a huge success and I'm happy as a clam but then I had some blood work done.
My A1C hadn't budged, and my blood sugar level looked atrocious. It could've been due to years of abuse, or a sign that my body truly can't keep up anymore... Even with a good diet, and a stellar workout routine, it didn't matter.
I'm going dry this month and look into signing up for a 5k or 10k to run. For any other athletic hobbyist like me who liked to have a few at night, please share your experiences. How difficult was it? How much did you improve (lifting, running, etc.)? Did you stop entirely after or learned how to moderate successfully?

What were you doing at that time?

First time posting my own post. I’ve been nervous about the criticism.
F; SW for zepbound 246; 5’9”; 46yo CW 226 just started second month of zepbound w/10mg dose.
I am a 46 year old perimenopausal personal trainer who has had an up and down battle with weight my entire life. In 2015 after a serious car accident with injuries that made it difficult to workout and going off of my stimulant for ADD that I had been on since I was 20, I had a slow but significant weight gain. I eventually made it up to around 252 and couldn’t get it off with normal diet and exercise like I had always in the past. My dr said I was becoming insulin resistant and tried to push the meds with me. I was very resistant bc of what I do for work and thought there has to be a more natural way. After a year of dedication to losing weight it didn’t happen and I started wegovy last April 2023. I did 2 months of wegovy 2.5 and lost 12 pounds. Then there was no more wegovy. Fast forward 1 year to this April and a new dr. Up to 246 she offers zepbound. I got 5.0 with no issue- well I had issues with the insurance company but not with the pharmacy. The dr prescribed 5 as a starting dose. I didn’t realize it wasn’t a starting dose at the time. The first week was rough. It took until about the 3rd week for things to even off and for me to feel somewhat normal. In the first 3 weeks I lost 14 pounds and a lot of inflammation. For most of the 3 weeks I was barely able to eat. I have consumed A LOT of nutrient dense smoothies. Basically every thing I put in my mouth is pure protein or super nutrient rich food. My pharmacy only had 10 and above. I asked the dr to write me a physical script for 7.5 or 5 so I could call around myself to find it. They said no and sent the script in for 10. I took my first 10 apprehensively on Thursday (today is Monday) as scheduled. The nausea was not even close to as bad as it was with the 5mg but I am basically repulsed by food. Like if someone was making you eat rat poison and you start gagging before it even comes close to your mouth- ya like that. I’m struggling to get the smoothies down this weekend. I was able to eat one steak tip last night. Between Thursday and Monday I’m down 4.4 pounds. I feel like the book Thinner by Stephen king. lol. Typically by Tuesday I’m good when I was on the 5mg and with the week 4 dose of 5mg I was great. No issues. I ate well. My weight stabilized that week. I have been hitting the weights hard and have changed my workout routine to ensure I’m keeping the muscle mass on. We have an inbody assessment machine at work that measures you muscle/fat mass and much more. I’ve been doing it weekly and my muscle mass has stayed exactly the same. Thankfully.
I am so grateful and excited to be getting my old bad back. I really feel the changes. But I’m also greatly worried about how quickly the weight is coming off of my body. I have a pretty decent understanding of hormones and what is happening in my body. I feel like between the perimenopausal stuff and then adding the zepbound and the intense weight lifting, I sort of have this perfect storm of hormonal changes and the meds are working a little too well.
I guess I’m wondering if there is anyone else experiencing anything similar, especially the struggle to eat. And what other side effects people may be having. I have had a lot of them. Some I don’t know if they are perimenopausal stuff or zepbound related. Thanks!

So I have been trying to stay consistent at gyming, but no luck. Multiple reasons. Still I don't want to use them as an excuse.
Started back when I was 18, and over the span of these last 2 years, I have hardly gone for like 3 months.
And I feel disgusted by that. Majorly because I don't like the way I look, am a positive person, but this is not the body I wanna live the rest of my life in.
That is why, I am adapting an active workout routine. Gym in the morning and home workout (for abs and strength training) in the evening.
This time I am thinking of posting my daily progress (body pic) on this reddit account, so that I feel accountable and tracked on this journey.
Here are my stats of 13th May 2024: Age: 20 M Height: 6 ft 1" Weight: 100 kg (220 lbs)
Any advice and tips will be greatly appreciated.

Hello Fellow members...
Let's be real - mornings can be brutal, especially if you're a night owl. You set multiple alarms, hit snooze repeatedly, and still feel like a zombie when you finally roll out of bed. Trust me, I've been there!
On the flip side, maybe you're one of those annoyingly chipper morning larks who could run laps at 5 AM but can barely keep your eyes open after 9 PM. We all have our own unique body clocks, known as chronotypes.
For years, I struggled with the morning battle, dragging myself to the gym before tackling my most important tasks later in the day. But by evening, when I needed all my brain power, my energy and focus were shot. It was a vicious, unproductive cycle.
That's when I discovered the power of understanding my chronotype - my body's natural circadian rhythm that governs sleep patterns, hormone levels, and energy peaks. It was a total game-changer!
I realized I'm more of a morning person, with my sharpest focus and highest energy in those early hours. So I flipped my routine - prioritizing my most important work first thing, and moving my workouts to the evening when the gym was less crowded anyway.
The results were night and day (pun intended). By working in sync with my natural rhythms, I was knocking out high-value tasks by noon, feeling that sweet satisfaction of achievement. And with my evenings freed up, I could hit the gym without rushing.
Understanding your chronotype is a crucial step in optimizing your productivity and time management. For some, that might mean rearranging your schedule to knock out important tasks during your personal prime time. For others, it could be about protecting your peak focus periods and avoiding distractions.
Of course, aligning with your biological clock is just one of many strategies I cover for unlocking extra hours in your week. For those who want to dive deeper into the above, feel free to check the video I created for increasing motivation and gaining and extra day a week by tweaking your habits. The video is timestamped to where I talk about the Chronotype aspect : https://youtu.be/m2KGDTkJ1Jk?si=_DPjI47R3ZnOfJPK&t=823 . The video also dives into batching similar tasks, cutting mindless social media scrolling, intentional multitasking during "no-brainer" activities, and time blocking for intense focus sessions.
But figuring out whether you're a morning lark, night owl, or something in between can be the first step in a total productivity transformation. It's all about self-knowledge and intentionally designing your days to work for you, not against you.
So if you're constantly struggling to wake up or stay awake, it might be time to look at your chronotype. Once I cracked that code, it was like the foggy haze lifted - my days flowed better, I accomplished more, and I actually had time for the things that mattered most.
Have any of you found that listening to your body clock made a difference in your energy, focus, and productivity? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments!